Service clamp



| w. MUELLER ET AL 2,

Nov. 15, 1949 SERVICE CLAMP Filed April 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 15, 1949 1.. w. MUELLER ET AL 2, 0

SERVICE CLAMP Filed April 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gvwe/wfm Lucien Wfiuellerfid Jofinclsmi 1%,

thereto, the service clamp is applied to the pipe at the desired point so that the boss 55 will align with the point in the main where the opening is to be made. The rigid studs I8 and 24 are then inserted through their complementary openings 23 and II respectively in the clamp members I2 and I3 and the nuts 20 and 26 applied so as to tighten the clamp onto the main. It will be noted that the boss I 5 straddles the upper surface of the main where the fitting is to be connected while the bottom clamp 2I engages the underside of the main directly opposite the top clamp I2. The studs I8 and 24 extend loosely through their complementary tapered openings so as to allow limited rocking movement of the studs, and these studs are outwardly spaced or offset from the adjacent wall of the main I (Fig. 2) in order to accommodate mains of various sizes Without contacting the same. An important advantage of the present arrangement is that after the retaining nuts 23 and 26 are sufficiently tightened on the threaded studs I8 and 24 to bring the bottom clamp 2| into engagement with the adjacent surface of the main I0, further tightening of either the nut 20 or 26 will act uniformly on both clamping members and thus prevent the gasket 28 from shifting its position as not infrequently occurs with service clamps held on the main by flexible U-shaped straps that have nuts engaging the top clamp member. During the clamping operation the top or saddle I4 of the clamp I2 is pressed downwardly to force the gasket 28 into firm sealing engagement with the main adjacent the point where the pipe is to be cut and the branch fitting inserted. Each of the studs I8 and 24 preferably tapers outwardly which serves to strengthen the studs and prevent breaking off of the same from the transverse portions when the clamp is tightened up on a main. By providing the studs I8 and 24 of larger diameter adjacent the transverse portions I4 and 2I respectively, each of the clamp members is strengthened or reinforced at the juncture of the stud with the transverse portion so as to lessen or preclude the possibility of bending the clamp members when they are tightened up on the main. The groove 21 may be of V-shape instead of semicircular, provided it is large enough to completely receive the gasket 28. I

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 4 and the parts of the clamp are substantially similar to the form previously described with the exception that the bottom 29 of the top clamp I4 is formed with an annular groove 30 in which is preferably positioned an annular O-ring rubber gasket 3|, that normally protrudes from the bottom of the clamp I4. The depth and width of the groove 30 relative to the size of the gasket 3| is such that the portion 32 adjacent the groove 30 will be spaced from the main II) (Fig. 4). As the clamp is applied to the main the gasket 3| which is of smaller diameter than the width of the groove 30, will be spread outwardly or distorted to fill the groove and the portion 32 of the top I4 will be moved into frictional contact with the outer surface of the main III on each side of the groove 30 so that the parts assume the position as shown in Figure 5.

It will be observed that the rubber gasket 3| when the clamp is applied to the main is distorted so as to be totally contained within the groove 30 and cannot be blown out. Manifestly, a lead gasket could equally be used and when subjected to downward pressure, the gasket would be distorted so as to fill the groove 3|] and thus provide a tight sealing engagement between the parts. In the form of joint shown in Figure 2, the final contact of the top member or saddle I4 with the main I 0 is made through the lead gasket 28 and therefore is not quite as rigid as the joint made with the rubber gasket 3I (Fig. 5) in which both the top clamp I2 and the bottom clamp I3 are brought into firm tight sealing engagement with the main I0.

I In the modification disclosed in Figure 6, the top I4 of the clamping member I2 is formed with an annular groove 33 on the underside thereof and has radial side walls 33'. The groove 33 receives a rubber O-ring 34 or the like, and the portion of the saddle I4 between the opening I6 and the annular groove 33, is cut away or reduced as at 35 to provide an inside space 36 between the clamp and the main ID to freely admit fluid pressure from the bore I6 into the groove 33 against the inner side of the gasket 34. The outer portion 31 of the bottom of the member I4 adjacent the groove 33 makes a metal-to-metal contact with the main so that after an opening has been drilled in the main the pressure of the liquid through the space 36 on the gasket 34 acts to force the gasket firmly against the outer side wall 33' of the groove 33 as shown in Figure 8 to further insure the provision of a tight seal. The parts are shown prior to the drilling of the main, but after the final clamping of the members I2 and I3 to the main and the gasket 34 being initially compressed between the bottom of the groove and the main, (Fig. 6) and also after the opening III has been formed in the main, (Fig. 8). When the saddle I4 is clamped to the main I II, the groove 33 forms therewith an annular cavity in which is positioned the deformable gasket or packing 33, and the gasket 33 may be equal or of less volume than the annular cavity so that no portion of the gasket or packing will be forced or squeezed out between the main and the clamp. If the cavity is of greater size than the volume of the gasket or packing it will not impair the sealing efficiency of the gasket under force of the fluid pressure passing through the passage 36.

In the modification shown in Figure 7 the annular groove 38 in the underside of the top It is formed similar to the groove 33 in Figure 6, but has its side Walls 39 disposed substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the main I0 instead of radial. The annular rubber gasket or O-ring 40 is positioned within the groove 38 so that upon the parts being clamped, it will spread to partially fill the groove 38 and be forced into light sealing engagement with the adjacent surface of the main. A reduced passage 4! between the inside of groove 38 and the threaded bore or opening I6 in the boss I5 allows fluid pressure to be forced against the gasket so as to further insure a tight sealing engagement of the gasket when the main has been drilled, as shown in Figure 9. Each of the gaskets 33 and. 38 shown in Figures 6 and 7 is normally circular and are shown slightly distorted and in the position they assume prior to the clamp being applied to the main.

The construction and arrangement of the clamping members I2 and I3 when associated with a main or the like provide a strong and rigid vo-piece clamp so that when the nuts 20 and 26 are tightened, a powerful gripping action on the pipe or main It is produced which is more efficient than the heretofore U-shaped clamp which is open to the objection that such a U-shaped clamp does not quite conform to the contour of the main or pipe to which it is to be connected so that durggr ss on nr ts i antennae other,--istransmitted=through-s lpp ithe ina'inthe strap hasatendeficy H I y -point short oicompletetake up. f Further, 2. {sisters '1 olt rn ay later caus the streets "slipand a nfr equ i fi es si ie itg m j f gasketfrom its positio nut zli brth hut zs tiire isftransm -ted to each of the clampingmembersequal reactions hem onehutto theother. mm

The clamping structures shown in Figures 4, 5,

6 and 7 are so constructed and arranged as to be capable of holding a' much larger pressure than r-the gasketfiiliFigr 2wand-maybe"appliedto the ordinary types of service clamps having yieldablee' straps. When these gaskets are associated with the rigid'blain'pl mire-verandaears-ri rigid and positive clamping assembly that makes a more 'efiicien't'and effective lead joint or a rtibb'er joint U sha'ped "strap, due to the greater firmness of contact of the clamps l2 and It with the main.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments and that such changes may be made as come within the purview of one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. A service clamp for connecting a, branch pipe to a main including a pair of co-acting clamping members, each of said members having a transverse portion and an angularly disposed stud, one of the transverse portions constituting a top clamp and the other transverse portion a bottom clamp, said top and bottom clamps arranged to engage opposite sides of the main, each of said top and bottom clamps having an opening therein through which extends the stud of the other clamp, said top clamp having a boss provided with a bore for receiving a tapping fitting, the underside of the clamp having an annular groove, a deformable O-ring gasket in said groove, said gasket being of smaller diameter than the Width of the groove so that when the clamp is applied to the main, the gasket is distorted to completely fill the groove, and means connected to the studs for tightening the top and bottom clamps to the main, said top clamp when clamped to the main co-acting with said groove to form an annular cavit sufiiciently large to receive the entire deformable gasket so that no portion of the gasket will be forced out between the main and the clamp.

2. A service clamp for connecting a branch pipe to a main including a pair of co-actin clamping members, each of said members having a transverse portion and an angularly disposed stud, one of the transverse portions constituting a stop clamp and the other transverse portion a bottom clamp, said top and bottom clamps arranged to engage opposite sides of the main, each of said top and bottom clamps having an opening therein through which extends the stud of the other 7 with-a ore-forreceiv" g a ta *iinderside of the top 1 clamp --'adaacent SEtld o're sides, anb ring gasket tom of the topclamp be we 11 th 1 f1 aston s ing-flui under press agamst theoiiter side of 'the' g1 ovefahd' Y "'"c bl'illlld tdthe stllfls for ti-ghtenihg-"the top and 'botto'r'n "clamps to-themain.

' to amainihcltiding-a-pairof co-acting c "members, each of said members having a ranshaving an annular groove' providd with radial sem -e cove; the botnuns-groove and s aid' bore' bei'ng reduced to provide a pass al'nst-theiide oi the' gaslietto 3.-- A servic'e claim'pior co'nfriectingab 'i rse "portion-andan ang'ularly disposed stud one oi the transverse 'pbr'tio'ns- 'coristitutin a top ciao-is and' theother trafisvers' portion a 'bettdm e-ramp, said top" and 'bottcm' ciamm arrangd to engage o posite sides of the main, eacn or said top andbottom clamps having open.

herein through which enemas the stud of the other I clamp, "said top clam having b'ossrpro' tied with abo're for" receiving a tapping fitting the undersideof the 'top""c1-ampadjacent -'the-' ore substantially'parallel With-the- "ofvthe' ore,

an "O-ring gasket 'in-said-f groo've and} of smaller --diameter than the' 'width of-'-the groove,; the r otconstruction than can be obtained with a fi'xiblek-ig tom of the top clamp between the inner wallof the groove and the bore 'being reducedto pr'ovide a passage for conducting fluid under pressure against the inside of the gasket to force the same against the outer side wall of the groove, and means connected to the studs for tightening the top and bottom clamps to the main.

4. A service clamp for connecting a branch pipe to a main including a pair of co-acting clamping members, each of said members having a transverse portion and an angularly disposed threaded stud, one of the transverse portions constituting a top clamp and the other transverse portion a bottom clamp, said top and bottom clamps arranged to engage opposite sides of the main, each of said studs being tapered outwardly so as to increase the strength of the stud at the juncture of the clamp therewith, each of said top and bottom clamps havin a tapered opening through which loosely extend the stud of the other clamp, said top clamp having a boss provided with an internally threaded bore for receiving a tapping fitting, the underside of the top clamp having an annular groove, a gasket in said groove arranged to contact with the main when the parts are set up, and nuts detachably connected to the threaded shanks for securing the clamp firmly in position on the main.

5. A service clamp for connecting a branch pipe to a main including a pair of co-acting clamp members, each of said members having a transverse portion and an angularly disposed stud, one of the transverse portions constituting a top saddle clamp and the other transverse portion a bottom clamp, said top and bottom clamp arranged to engage opposite sides of the main, each of said clamps having an opening through which extends the stud of the other clamp, said studs tapering outwardly from the clamps and having threaded ends, the tapering studs being wider at the juncture of the clamps therewith to increase the strength of the studs at these points, said top clamp having a boss provided with an internally threaded bore for receiving a tapping fitting, the.

arranged to contact with the main when the parts are set up, and nuts detachably connected to the threaded shanks for securing the clamp firmly in position to the main.

6. In combination with a supply main, a clamp for connecting a branch pipe to the main, said clamp including a saddle member arranged to contact the main, said saddle member having an annular groove, a deformable packing in said groove of smaller diameter than the width of the groove, said packing when the clamp is applied to the main being distorted so as to completely fill the groove and form a tight sealing engagement with the main, said clamp also coacting with the groove to form an annular cavity sufficiently large to receive the entire deformable packing so that no portion of the packing will be forced out between the main and the clamp.

7. In combination with a supply main, a clamp for connecting a branch pipe to the main, said clamp including a saddle member arranged to contact the main, said saddle member having a boss provided with a bore, the underside of the saddle member adjacent the bore having an annular groove, a deformable O-ring gasket in said groove and of smaller diameter than the width of the groove, said gasket when the clamp is applied to the main being distorted to completely fill the groove to form a tight sealing engagement with the main, said saddle member also eo-acting with said groove to form an annular cavity sufficiently large to receive the entire deformable gasket that no portion of the gasket will be forced out between the main and the saddle member.

8. In combination with a supply main, a clamp for connecting a branch pipe to the main, said clamp including a saddle member arranged to contact the main, said saddle member having a boss provided with a bore, the underside of the saddle member adjacent the bore having an annular groove provided with walls substantially parallel with said bore, an O-shaped gasket in said groove, the bottom of the saddle adjacent the inside of the groove bein reduced to provide a passage for communicating said bore with the groove so that when the clamp is set up fluid pressure from the bore enters the groove to force the gasket into tight sealing engagement with the outer Wall of the groove and the main.

LUCIEN W. MUELLER. JOHN J. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,641,879 Brady Sept. 6, 1927 1,824,387 Becker Sept. 22, 1931 2,187,217 Winslow Jan. 16, 1940 

